In its reaction to the story “FAITH-full or FAITH-less? Would IATO go solo?” carried in Whereabouts (March 1, 2021), FAITH Secretariat has written offering clarification on some of the strong opinions expressed by members of ‘Team for Change’along with a list of works that the federation has undertaken in the last few months.
Responding to comments that have questioned FAITH’s relevance and that taking up issues through FAITH has undermined the stature of IATO and resulting in its “loss of identity” as highlighted in Whereabouts’ story (https://www.whereabouts.in/faith-full-or-faith-less-would-iato-go-solo/), Subhash Goyal, Hony. Secretary of FAITH and also IATO’s current representative in the federation, in his letter, has clarified, “FAITH has taken up only those issues which are common to all the 10 associations and the entire tourism industry like reduction of GST, Relief under MSME, taxation issues, steps like restarting of e-visas, restarting of international flights, exemption of compulsory quarantine for those who have already tested negative. These and many more steps have been taken up by FAITH for the industry to survive & revive.”
Furthermore, allaying doubts that IATO has not taken up its own concerns on its own, Goyal states, “FAITH is a federation of 10 associations and IATO is one of its very important members. It (IATO), like other associations, has made separate representations to the Government on various issues specific to the tour operators keeping in mind the interest of inbound tour operators. Similarly, FHRAI has made separate representations keeping the interest of hotels & restaurants, ICPB has made separate representations for MICE, ADTOI for Domestic Tourism, ATOAI for Adventure Tourism, IHHA for Heritage Hotels and ITTA for Tourist Transporters.”
Opinions expressed in the story has also raised questions on Goyal’s ability to deliver for IATO and its members, labeling him a ‘total failure’ and suggesting that he should have been removed as IATO’s representative in FAITH. Goyal’s letter states, “IATO members should be proud of the fact that their representative was unanimously elected as the Honorary Secretary of FAITH and also as the Chairman of ITM 2018, 2019 and 2021.
The small and medium tour operators who couldn’t go abroad were given the opportunity by IATO and other associations to participate in the buyer seller meets at a specially subsidised rate of Rs. 15,000/- only to share a booth instead of paying Rs. 1 lac per booth because of which they were able to interact with over 200 buyers from 60 countries.”
In the ITM 2021, the booth charges were Rs. 10,000/-and participants were able to interact with over 240 buyers from 74 countries apart from the sessions, according to the information contained in the letter.
Furthermore, informing that the move to join FAITH was overwhelmingly supported by IATO members and was a consensus decision, Goyal writes “The fact is that the undersigned as President of IATO was one of the founder members of FAITH, even though IATO as an organisation took some time in joining. When IATO joined later on, it was with about 94 per cent support of the IATO active members.”
“The entire tourism industry of the country knows the contribution of FAITH. The achievements of FAITH before COVID and during COVID are known to everyone who has been reading newspapers and following the media,” letter issued by the FAITH Secretary notes.
Letter from the FAITH Secretariat lists below some of the achievements and issues that were taken up strongly on behalf of the entire tourism industry before & after COVID. We have carried it as received.
18 Feb: In a multi-industry meet, shared concern with FM & MOF on likely impact on tourism from COVID 19
2 Mar: Sought urgent appointment from Chairman, CBDT on likely impact on tourism from COVID19
6-Mar: Shared with MOT for PMO likely impact assessment on tourism from emerging Situation on COVID 19
6 Mar:Letter to Revenue Secretary, Tourism Secretary & Secretary DEA on abolishing Proposed TCS amidst COVID 19 crisis.
12 Mar: In a multi-industry meet, shared concern with Commerce Minister & MOC on likely impact on tourism from COVID 19
13 Mar: Multi association Meeting with Tourism Minister & with MOT on COVID 19
16 Mar: Multi delegation Meeting with Tourism Parliamentary Committee member Rajiv Rudy on survival & revival support for tourism from COVID 19 – raised in parliament
18 Mar: Multi association request to PM on survival & revival support for tourism from COVID 19
18 Mar: Multi delegation Meeting with Tourism Parliamentary Committee member Derek O’Brien on survival & revival support for tourism from COVID 19 – raised in parliamentary hearing with MOT
19 Mar: First All India national PR Campaign On letter to PM survival & revival support for tourism from COVID19
19 Mar: Shared Tourism Relief Template with the whole industry to customise letters.
20 Mar: Letter to RBI Governor on survival & revival support for tourism from COVID19
20 Mar: Multi association request to Finance Minister on survival & revival support for tourism from COVID19
21 Mar: Note to MOT for FM on Tourism-sub sector wise – LIST OF STATUTORY OBLIGATIONS FOR Waiver
22 Mar: Note on MOT for FM & RBI Banking Financial Relief & waivers
27 Mar: Status update to MOT analysing measures announced vs relief measures asked
30 Mar: Update to Tourism Minister sharing examples of COVID 19 Outreach by tourism travel & hospitality
03 Apr: Multi association Meeting with Tourism Secretary & with MOT on status update and survival & revival support for tourism
05 Apr: Multi association Meeting with Secretary Civil Aviation on survival support for travel agents
08 Apr: Multi association Meeting with Addl Secretary Commerce & on status update and survival & revival support for tourism
10 Apr: Multi association Meeting DGFT on SEIS & survival & revival support for tourism
11 Apr: Twitter Account activated to start a social media communication on Govt handles
15 Apr: Note to NitiAayog on survival & revival support for tourism
23 Apr: Second all India national PR Campaign on survival & revival support tourism
28 Apr: FB group activated for industry mobilisation.
28 Apr: Requests to all chief ministers on survival & revival support to tourism
29 Apr: Third all India national PR Campaign on request to CM on survival & revival support to tourism
04 May: Multi association Meeting with Empowered Group 6 & CEO on support package for Tourism
05 May: Fourth all India national PR Campaign on doubling loss value of tourism
06-May: Follow up mail to EG-6 for Immediate Relief for tourism
13 May: Multi association Meeting with secretary Culture on support for Tourism
17-May: Fifth – all India national PR Campaign ‘Indian Tourism shock & disbelief at being excluded from the relief package
17-May: Protest with Tourism Minister & MOT expressing shock & disbelief at being excluded from the relief package
27 May: Second phase: Request to Tourism Minister – Tourism Aid & Restructuring package (TARP)
28 May: Second phase: Request to Finance Sec/ EG 6 / NitiAayog / RBI – Tourism Aid & Restructuring package (TARP)
29 May: Sixth – all India partial PR Campaign phase: Second phase – Tourism Aid & Restructuring package (TARP)
01 Jun: Request to CM Delhi for rolling back the proposal to attach hotels as COVID wrote to CM hospitals & using stadiums instead – request forwarded to health minister.
07 Jun: MDA policy discussion on promoting domestic tourism
08 Jun: Meeting request with Tourism Minister on Tourism Aid & Restructuring package (TARP)
09 Jun: Second phase – request to all Chief Ministers Tourism Aid & Restructuring package (TARP)
11 Jun: Second Phase – Request to MOT on all states Tourism Sectaries meeting on Tourism Aid & Restructuring package (TARP)
18-27 Jun: Request sent to 386 LokSabha members on supporting tourism industry to ask the question – ‘Why Not Tourism’
24 Jun: Multi-association brainstorming with Min. of Tourism to discuss marketing & content development strategy
28 Jun-4 Jul: Request sent to 239 Rajya Sabha members on supporting tourism industry to ask the question – ‘Why Not Tourism’
3 Jul: Meeting with CEO, NitiAayog to request for financial and monitory policy support for tourism to Min. of Finance and to RBI.
6 Jul: Discussion and inputs for the revised MDA policy to enhance inbound tourism.
9 Jul: Multi-association meeting with Min of Tourism to discuss market development strategy for inbound tourism.
11 Jul: Multi-association meeting with MOCA to discuss concerns regarding airline refunds.
12 Jul: Exploratory discussion with Min. of Industries on enhancing ease of doing business for all sub-sectors of tourism, travel & hospitality
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